New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-16
TEnUANTEPEC OR NICARAGUA
THE BILL TO CHARTER TIE EADs RAILWAY

THE BILL TO CHARTER TIE EADs RAILWAY
SPEECHES BY SENATORS HDMUNDs AND BEST.
WASHINGTON Feb 10 (Specidil-rhe discussion In the
Senate upon the simple question whether Captain Eads
shall have charter from tho Government to construct
his ship railway has long since abandoned the point at
ISSUE and Ia dwelling upon the relative advantages OF the
different routes Central America Tho bitterness
and feeling displayed by tho adherents and OPP
ponents respectively Of Captain Eadss scheme
are remarkable. In tho eyes OF tho Eads men
the Nicaragua Canal Is the dream OF dsorlered brains
while by friends Of the Nicaragan scheme the Eads rail-
way considered mpossibity Tho two speeches OF
tho day. by Messra Edmunds and Vest, were delivered
mainly upon these principles though both considered fully
the power OF tho Government to grant charter such as
Is asked 10y Captain Eads Mr. Edmunds spoke In favor
OF tho Nicarasuan routes Mr. Vest. as might be e1
pectod IN favor OF Captain Eais. Mr. Edmunds, whose
adherence the Nicaraguan route dates from the time
when President Arthur upon his advice, negotiated tho
Nicaraguan Treaty characterized the charter or
act OF incorporation asked by Captain Eads
IA unique in Its eudacity," and declared that
its granting would be "usurpation on the
nart Of Congress-" Modestly claiming only " common
sense" Mr. Edmunds went with great carncsness into
the details of the engineering difficulties presented by
Eadss scheme lie declared IL lie was
careful 10 omit stating whyto transport ships OF 5000
tons burden continent ON railway M.h Wo1u
have To climb to a altitude Of nearly 1000 feet lie
asked " hat woud done Of accident TO avoid
delay In transporting ships doplorod the fact that
no provision had been made for side tracks and hal
good deal say about timetables and other matters OF
detail TLen he complained about the unhoathiul Gu
mate on the Isthmus Of Tehuanepce To an inquiry ny
Mr. IIoa he had obtained his information upon ms
point Mr. EIuunds replied rather testify that the sources
were equally open Ia the Senator from Massachuscits
a. TO himself Throughout. the debate was intcrSperscd
with little personalities. which never however, reached
the dignity o encounters
Mr. Vest delivered what was considered au eloquent
spccch in behalf OF Captain Euds He accused Air
Tdmunds OF being tho open enemy OF 'hc
Tehuaniepec route. Ho declared that every
engineering obstacle IN tho way OF Captain
Eads was magnlncd thOusaudfol ny
Mr. Edmunis. while tho difficulties In connection win
tto MAN af.l.
cused Mr. Edmunds of growing faction. when chaIac-
tsrling the Eads charter ~ unique. when he had r.
roricd hill almost Identical In It's
scope. in favor OF tho NicaTaguan route,
lie pointed out that Captain Lads neither hsAed
for money nor for guarantee but simply for an ACT OF
incorporation basing his request upon concession on
tanned from Mexican Government. while In. Mica
ragunn people based their claim for recognition upon
which had yet be obtained and tat too III
view that serious dispute Wa possible about
the boundary line between Nicaragua hnd 'osta tNca
ia the course -, tho debate MI Morgan defended tho
Nicarnguan scheme. and Mr Van WICK offered an amend
uent in rc-ari the ~ slug The stock OF tho
proposed company. which IL stiii pen'ing Mc-+r- Can
and George delivered themselves ~ constitutional quiD
bles but siguncd their intention 10 support the BILL